HC Deb 14 October 1943 vol 392 cc1051-2
59. Dr. Russell Thomas

asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken to ascertain the views of doctors serving in the Armed Forces, both in this country and abroad, in regard to the future of medical practice?

Mr. E. Brown

I am quite alive to the need for this, but the appropriate time will be when the White Paper has been issued as the basis for public discussion.

Dr. Thomas

Is it not a fact that no steps have been taken to ascertain the views of about 30,000 doctors connected with the Armed Forces? Would my right hon. Friend give a political assurance and guarantee similar to that of the Prime Minister yesterday in the case of coal, that the medical profession will be protected?

Mr. Brown

The proper time to deal with that matter will be when the White Paper is issued. The country and the House will then be able to express an opinion.

Dr. Summerskill

Are we to understand from the answer that the right hon. Gentleman has taken advice only from the older doctors, and not from the younger ones, who are in the Services and who will be called upon to administer the medical service?

Mr. Brown

I have pointed out that the time to deal with these questions will be when the White Paper is before Parliament.

72. Sir Ernest Graham-Little

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the representative body of the British Medical Association has, in 1942 and 1943, recorded almost unanimous opposition to the establishment of any whole-time salaried State medical service to the extinction of private practice, as proposed in Assumption B of the Beveridge Report; that similar oposition has come from numerous plebiscites of the profession; and whether he still adheres to his declaration at Westminster Hospital, on 4th October, that the Government has accepted Assumption B and is engaged in putting its provisions into operation?

Mr. Brown

The answer to the last part of the Question is, Yes, Sir. But, if my hon. Friend will look again at Assumption B of the Report, he will find that it does not contain the particular proposal which he describes—nor does it purport to deal at all with the method of organising the new service.

Sir E. Graham-Little

Will my right hon. Friend contradict the statement which he is said to have made, that this matter has been determined already and that it is actually being put into operation?

Mr. Brown

I have never said that.

Dr. Russell Thomas

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that more than 90 per cent. of the profession have recently turned down the matter, and that they are particularly disturbed at the Socialistic scheme he brought forward at the outset?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Member is now repeating what he said on the Adjournment, with not very great satisfaction to himself.

Mr. Gallacher

Is the Minister aware that the national health service is more important than the opinion of a few private practitioners?